1 - WILLINGNESS TO APPLY THE CRPD.
Do you feel that the political and administrative authorities of your country are strongly committed to/involved in fully implementing the CRPD?
The Treaty was signed and ratified only just in May 2014. It remains to be seen how strong and how far the Swiss authorities will get involved in implementing the CRPD.
2 - FOCAL POINTS.
Have the focal points (i.e. points of contact) provided for in article 33-1 of the CRPD been designated in your country?
At national level the Federal Bureau for Equality of People with Disabilities (FBED) will be such a focal point in future. For that task further resources are needed. Until now the role and tasks of the FBED are linked closely to the Swiss law of equality for handicapped people. The FBED promotes equalization and prevents disadvantages of people with a disability in different areas of life.
The cantonal or regional coordination is not yet determined. Probably such coordination will occur in the conferences of the cantonal governments.
3 - ROLE.
What is, or will be, their role?
The Federal Bureau for Equality of People with Disabilities (FBED) will act as a national focal point (contact and coordination centre) and will be responsible for the upcoming first report.
4 - COORDINATION OF ACTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRDP AND FOCAL POINTS.
How are the focal points and the actions for the CRPD's implementation coordinated?
A certain coordination mechanism does not yet exist. Rather the creation of the first report will play a central role in the coordination process.
5 - PROMOTION OF THE CRPD.
How does your country go about promoting the CRPD?
The first report will offer a comprehensive analysis of the current state. Based on this analysis strategies for further promotion of CRPD can be developed.
6 - PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS INCLUDED IN THE CRPD.
Which national authority is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the rights included in the CRPD?
The Federal Department of Home Affairs especially the FBED (see above) as well as certain cantonal authorities and bodies can be mentioned.
7 - MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRPD.
In your country, which authority is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD?
An independent human rights institution does not exist yet in Switzerland. The Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights (SCHR) is organized as a project that runs out 2015.
Additionally the civil society must monitor and promote the implementation of the CRPD. The umbrella organization of associations for people with a disability will handle this task and coordinate with interest and self-help groups in Switzerland.
8 - ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS OF BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS. How are the associations of blind or visually impaired persons involved in the implementation of the CRPD?
The Swiss Federation of Blind and Visual impaired people (SBV), the Swiss Union of the Blind (SBb) as well as the Swiss National Association of and for the Blind (SZB) are all members of the national umbrella organization mentioned above. They all take part in decision-making.
9 - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
Have any additional resources (human or financial) been been made available for the implementation of the CRPD?
Yes. At the Federal Bureau for Equality of People with Disabilities (FBED) additional resources are needed.
10 - CRPD IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING REPORT.
Depending on the date on which your country ratified the CRPD, is it required to submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? If it is, has it done so?
The first report is expected in 2016, then all four years.
11 - SHADOW REPORT.
Have the associations of persons with disabilities presented the so-called shadow report?
No.
12 - COMMENTS.
Do you have any comments on the implementation of the CRPD in your country?
As mentioned before the Convention was signed and ratified only just in May 2014.
Update and Additional research notes 2019: (Sarah Woodin)
Documents related to implementation of the CRPD express different points of view. The Swiss State report 2018 states that the Federal Office for the Equality of Disabled Persons is responsible for the preparation of reports, in collaboration with other relevant offices and the cantons. On the other hand, Inclusion Handicap says: "At present, only the Canton of Zurich has a focal point for matters relating to the CRPD". And: "The cantons and municipalities almost entirely lack structures for implementing the CRPD." Little coordination of effort is apparent.
There is not an accredited human rights organisation listed for Switzerland. The 2016 State Report to the CRPD describes a university network set up to hold seminars and recently expanded its brief to include human rights monitoring: the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights. It does not appear to operate according to Paris Principles and it is not officially listed as a human rights organisation. It also does not list disability as an area of research. This is confirmed by the Inclusion Handicap submission to List of Issues for CRPD monitoring in 2019.
There are no apparent efforts at involvement of disabled people. It not mentioned in State Report or the DPO report. There is a commitment to consulting with disabled people but specific measures are not given.